Saugus Town Meeting vote sets stage for possible new high school

SAUGUS – Talk of a new high school in Saugus is gaining steam after Town Meeting voted down a feasibility study to build new science labs at the school Monday night.Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian offered an alternate motion to refer the article back to the School Committee so the committee can file a statement of interest with the Massachusetts School Building Authority to build an entirely new high school. The motion also requested the town look into alternate sites for a new school along with the possibility of leasing or selling the current property.That motion passed 36-1.?Saugus is in the 14 percent of Massachusetts schools in fair to poor condition,” said Manoogian, who gave a 30-minute-long PowerPoint presentation focusing on some of the school?s deficiencies.?We should do it the right way,” said Town Meeting member Jeffrey Moses.Town Meeting member Al DiNardo also supported the article, saying, “It?s time for Saugus to come out of the Dark Ages.”The feasibility study would have looked into the potential to renovate the high school?s science labs through the MSBA.Science Director Frank Woods presented a slide show for Town Meeting showing the current condition of the science labs, four of which were built in 1954 and five in the 1970s.According to Woods, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges? accreditation report cites the labs as “outdated, unsafe and unable to meet the needs of the 21st century learner.”Woods presented photos of the labs, which included one room with a collapsing ceiling, while others had exposed gas piping, inadequate safety precautions and insufficient ventilation, water and drains.?Most of our lab rooms have one functioning sink in them,” said Woods. “That?s a tough thing to overcome. We?re currently using two converted business classrooms simply because they had a sink.”Woods also showed a “fly through” of what the new labs would look like.?You?re seeing 21st century science right now,” said Woods. “This would allow us to offer the students of Saugus the same science experience their neighbors are getting.”Superintendent Richard Langlois updated Town Meeting members on some lingering questions about the project, noting the town could still apply for “other construction projects at any time.”?If you were to approve this tonight, we could apply tomorrow for a renovation of the whole building,” said Langlois.Langlois also said there would be “no liability after 20 years” if the high school was decommissioned.Before the vote, Langlois said Town Meeting is faced with a “tough choice.”?I support you on both causes,” said Langlois. “Who wouldn?t want a new high school? But it?s expensive. There are other ways to do it.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].